Released on: July 10, 2008, 6:57 am

Press Release Author: COA Solutions

Industry: Software

Press Release Summary: The Fostering Network, the UK's leading charity for everyone
with a personal or professional involvement in fostering, is transforming efficiency
levels and improving financial decision making by implementing an OpenAccounts
financial and reporting system from COA Solutions (formerly CedarOpenAccounts).

Press Release Body: The Fostering Network, the UK's leading charity for everyone
with a personal or professional involvement in fostering, is transforming efficiency
levels and improving financial decision making by implementing an OpenAccounts
financial and reporting system from COA Solutions (formerly CedarOpenAccounts). The
new system, which will be fully implemented by late Summer 2008, will significantly
enhance the way financial information is reported at The Fostering Network's four
sites in London, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The Fostering Network required a company-wide and scalable financial management
system to present a holistic view of its finances and replace the restrictive
accounting system it had in place. It selected COA Solutions' OpenAccounts system
due to its strong financial management and reporting capabilities, ease of use and
advanced functionality. COA Solutions' strong presence in the UK charity sector and
the fact that the company both authors and implements its own software, were also
key factors for selecting COA Solutions' OpenAccounts.

Michael Matthews, The Fostering Network's Project Accountant, explains, "Our
previous financial system was too complex, time-consuming and restrictive when we
needed to extract financial information for reporting purposes. Accounts staff were
also spending a disproportionate amount of time on routine manual processes. We
therefore sought a system that was straightforward to use and could easily be
understood by non-finance professionals."

Matthews continues, "It soon became apparent that COA Solutions fully understood our
business needs and could fulfill all of our key requirements."

OpenAccounts will significantly improve the reporting and accessibility of financial
information throughout the organisation, resulting in improved decision making
whilst ensuring greater financial control. It will also be easier for The Fostering
Network to tailor financial reports to its specific needs, such as producing ad-hoc
reports on training course costs.

Matthews adds, "As well as seeing improved information visibility, OpenAccounts is
eliminating the need for us to push transactions through our different business
locations which previously involved a lot of reconciliation. OpenAccounts is also
allowing us to capture data more easily and have an organisation-wide ledger which
will always be live, further improving reporting across all of our individual
sites."

The Fostering Network is considering implementing COA Solutions' e-BIS web-based
procurement system to further increase business-wide efficiency.

ENDS


About COA Solutions Ltd www.coasolutions.com
COA Solutions (formerly CedarOpenAccounts) is the UK's leading supplier of
integrated business management and information systems to public, private and
not-for-profit organisations in the service sector. COA Solutions prides itself on
getting close to its customers by understanding their businesses and responding to
their business needs.

COA Solutions' award-winning Smart Business Suite combines core financial
management, procurement, human resource and payroll systems, integrated with a range
of collaborative, document management and business intelligence solutions. These
solutions extend the value and effectiveness of the finance, HR and payroll
departments across the organisation and enable managers in the business to monitor,
analyse and continually improve corporate performance.

COA Solutions has more than 500 experienced and professional staff supporting and
servicing over 4,000 clients across the UK service sector including Companies House,
Newcastle City Council, WHSmith, Royal Bank of Scotland, Aer Lingus, National
Express Group, DFS, RSPB and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust.

About The Fostering Network www.fostering.net
The Fostering Network is the UK's leading charity for all those involved in
fostering, and exists to ensure that all children who are fostered receive the
highest standards of care. The organisation has a membership of more than 50,000
foster carers including almost all local authorities and health and social services
trusts in the UK in addition to independent fostering providers and local foster
care associations. This means The Fostering Network is uniquely placed to bring
people and organisations together to improve the lives of children in foster care.
As well as its core activities of campaigning and providing information, advice,
training and other forms of support for its members, The Fostering Network is
involved in a variety of projects in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Contact:

Liz Ebbrell, COA Solutions

Liz.ebbrell@coasolutions.com

+44 (0)1625 856505 or 07917 634 705

www.coasolutions.com


Ben Carey, COA Solutions

Ben.carey@coasolutions.com

+44 (0)1625 856505

www.coasolutions.com


Web Site: http://www.coasolutions.com

Contact Details: COA Solutions
London House
London Road South
Poynton
Cheshire
SK12 1YP